OT: American Disease

[downtown85]

I just finished watching the U19 world championships.  USA lost to Serbia (a country with a popuation of 5 million) in the finals by 5 points.  Once again team USA had by far the best players (individually) on the court, however, they were not the best team, just like the Lebron, DWade, and Carmelo team USA.  I am not sure what the problem is.  I can't completely blame the coach, Jerry Wainwright.  He seemed to do an o.k. job, except for one really bad play call after a timeout near the end.  I will grant that because the game was played in Serbia it gave the Serbs tremendous home court advantage.  But still, had this team played like a true team, it would've won by 30 points.  

BTW, I was unimpressed with Michael Beasly's play.  I was really impressed by Deon Thompson's (of North Carolina) play.  He is a big guy who can run the floor.  I would love to have someone like him playing for MU.  

[Murffieus]

The problem may be that these teams (in this case the Serbian team) play together longer and therefore play more as a team. Also they are more used to international rules (wider lane and deeper arc).

BTW----I haven't been very impressed with Wainright at DePaul-----no inside game----didn't develop Butler and others and had several guys who could have posted up       WIDE effectively----but apparently no direction there!

[downtown85]

The problem may be that these teams (in this case the Serbian team) play together longer and therefore play more as a team. Also they are more used to international rules (wider lane and deeper arc).

BTW----I haven't been very impressed with Wainright at DePaul-----no inside game----didn't develop Butler and others and had several guys who could have posted up       WIDE effectively----but apparently no direction there!

I agree with you regarding international rules (there was a 24 second clock in these games as well).

  However, I can't agree with you regarding foreign teams always playing and practicing together longer than team USA. All of these players (US or Foreign) have professional or college (or in these games sometimes high school) commitments.  Are you saying that the likes of David Cubillan spends or has spent a lot of time playing for the Venezuela natoinal team, just because he is foreign?  Look at the current team USA, the core of the team has played together for more than 4 years.   For each specific event, Olympics or Championships, I think every team nowadays face the same time constraints and  have a few weeks to a few months to prepare. 

I would suggest that most countries, which aren't subject to NCAA rules, allow players to practice with their professional or club teams as much as they want and get paid, even at a young age.  While athletically, they may be inferior to our players, but they are better coached generally and are better at the game mentally at a young age.   

Regarding, Wainwright, I have no strong opinion.

[77ncaachamps]

One of the problems is: "How do you coach kids who are all used to be 'The Man' on their teams?"

Many of them probably don't know how to work "as a team" because they're so used to having the ball in their hands.

Question to you: How many one-on-one moves were made by the USA U-19 players?

I'm betting A LOT.

The Eastern European players may lack the freakish athleticism of most US players, but they know how to play as a team and stroke the ball more.

[downtown85]

Answer:  A Lot.

However, each national team is composed of the best players who are used to scoring and touching the ball.  Perhaps our players are more infuenced by the type of play that takes place in the NBA where the star is expected to "take over" the game when the game is on the line.  Europeans (and South Americans) are probably always told to subordinate individual play and to the play as a team in all circumstances. 

The final four was Serbia, France, Brazil and USA.  France won the bronze.  The USA nearly lost to France in the semi-finals but pulled off a last minute upset.

On the other hand, the U.S. team had good defense, especially when they played zone.  Also, they used their speed to exploit the transition game much better than their opponents, which, I suppose is to be expected.  Outside shooting and free thow shooting sucked. Passing was sloppy.  Too many turnovers. 

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

The problem may be that these teams (in this case the Serbian team) play together longer and therefore play more as a team. Also they are more used to international rules (wider lane and deeper arc).

BTW----I haven't been very impressed with Wainright at DePaul-----no inside game----didn't develop Butler and others and had several guys who could have posted up       WIDE effectively----but apparently no direction there!

I think Wainwright had some problems getting players from the previous regime to "buy into" his system.

[Murffieus]

If I played for Wainright, I'd have trouble "buying in" to his system as well-----strictly a perimeter system----need points in the paint to win----and his system doesn't lend itself to that!

[77ncaachamps]

If I played for Wainright, I'd have trouble "buying in" to his system as well-----strictly a perimeter system----need points in the paint to win----and his system doesn't lend itself to that!

Sounds like something we currently have!

All perimeter players and little inside scoring!

[77fan88warrior]

The problem may be that these teams (in this case the Serbian team) play together longer and therefore play more as a team. Also they are more used to international rules (wider lane and deeper arc).

BTW----I haven't been very impressed with Wainright at DePaul-----no inside game----didn't develop Butler and others and had several guys who could have posted up       WIDE effectively----but apparently no direction there!

I believe Butler was also suspended 1st semester and only had one year of eligibility. I think he had his hands full in his first year with transition and guys buying into program. Butler also didn't show anything special at his previous stop.